Incubator



Nov. 5, 1935. E. T. BRACE 2,020,133

INCUBATOR- r Original Filed April 15, 1952 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTQR 50mm 7. swans.

A'l'l'ORN EY Nov. 5, 1935. E. T BRACE 2,020,133

INGUBAT OR Original Filed April 15, 1932 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR [on/0v 71 BF/IOE.

ATTORNEY E. T. BRACE Nov. 5, 1935.

INCUBATOR Original Filed April 15, 1932 4 Shee'ts-Sheet 5 EDWIIY' T. 51mm.

BY 6M 16% ATTORNEY Nov. 5, 1935. E. T. BRACE 2,020,133

INCUBATOR Original Filed April 15, 1932 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 HUM/OLIVER MOTOR l/flMlO/S 7H7 CMTFOL THE/510057297 671F677 THEE/"057197 WED/V P1107 LAMP INVENTOR EDWIN 7. 8/8966".

ATTORNEY Patented Nov. 5, 1935 UNITED STATES INCUBATOR Edwin T. Brace, Springfield, Ohio, asslgnor to I The Buckeye Incubator Mfg. Company, Springfield, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Original application April 15, 1932, serial No. 605,476. Divided and this application October 25, 1932, Serial No. 639,455

11 Claims. (Cl. 119-37) My invention relates to incubators and hatchers and .in particular to that feature dealing with the control of moisture in the incubator.

,It is-a further object of my invention to provide means of controlling the moisture content, the fresh air content and the heating of the air content within the enclosure constituting the incubator or hatcher.

In particular it is my object to provide a novel form of humidifier and novel means of applying the humidified air to the main air stream as well as extracting a portion therefrom, humidifying it and returning it to the main air stream.

It is a further object to provide means of circulating air in the enclosure with respect to the 1 humidifier in order to thoroughly distribute the humidified air between layers of eggs so that each layer will have humidified air of the same general humidity content applied to the eggs in the layer so that there will be uniformity of application of the moisture to all layers of eggs" as distinguished from the previous method sometimes employed of humidifying air and then distributing it so that certain portions of the eggs would secure more humidity than others as in the case when the air is driven first from one layer of eggs to another.

It is my object to provide means of distributing humidified air in its humidified condition, to humidify the air at each circuit and to apply the same degree of humidity to each layer of eggs.

This application is a division of my copending application, Ser. No. 605,476, filed April 15, 1932, and a continuation in part of my application, Ser. No. 605,406, filed April 15, 1932.

Figure 1 is a section on the line l--l of Figure 2. a

Figure 2 is a section on the line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a section on the line 33 of Figure 2 with the heating wires omitted.

Figure 4 is a side elevation of the humidifier control.

Figure 5 is a vertical section through another form of humidifier.

Figure 6 is a side elevation partially in section of the humidifier control.

Figure 7 is a detailed side elevation of the humidifier shown in Figure 5.

Figure 8 is a wiring diagram showing the humidifier, heat and fan control.

Figure 9 is a modified view showing the electric circuit controlling the humidifier, the fans, the heat and the admission of fresh air to the enclosure.

Figure 10 is a section on the line Ill-l of Figure 3.

Referring to the drawings in detail, I represents the front of an incubator having a bottom 2 and front doors 3 and 4. and 6 indicate the 5 side walls and 'l the back while 8 designates the top. The top is provided with an air inlet chute 9 discharging at It) provided with a damper II. This damper is operated by the pitman I2 which in turn is operated by a motor I3. The front wall has an opening between the doors for an instrument casing la covered by a panel lb.

The damper II is connected to the pitman I4 which in turn is connected to the links ii that operate the air exit damper or exhaust l6 controlling the port I'l.

The interior of the enclosure is provided with spaced uprights l8 carrying spaced solid bottom trays l9 carrying egg trays having wire mesh bottoms 2|. Within these trays reciprocate 20 smaller frames 22 having egg turning rods 23. The forward ends of the stacks of trays are adjacent the doors 3 and 4, while the rear ends are spaced a greater distance from the back 1 of the enclosure. There is a passageway, how- 25 ever, all the way around the stacks of trays as in front at 24, on the outside at 25, the back at 26 and between the trays at 21. A fan plate or housing 28 is vertically disposed between the rear ends of the trays, this plate having an aperture 29 through which the fan 30 blows air from the space 21 to the space 26, the air traveling in a horizontal path so that it will circulate between the egg trays as each tray is embraced on its top and bottom by a solid bottom part or tray I9, so that the air must circulate over the eggs in each tray independently of any other eggs in any other tray. The fan 30 is driven by a suitable motor 3|. 7

It will be understood that there may be a plurality of these fans and a plurality of these motors as indicated in Figure 8. Across the face of the fan are electric resistance heating wires 32.

Discharging into the inlet side of the fan is a chute 33 which communicates with the humidifier 35 and has thereon a handle 34.

Referring to the form shown in Figures 5 and 7, the humidifier 35 is provided with an air inlet 36. ,The air is induced to enter by the fan 31 operated by the motor 38. 60

This fan operates the pump 39, one end of which projects into the water 40 in the water pan 4| and the other end of which is provided with a spray distributor 42 which delivers a spray into the chamber 43, whence the air makes its exit through the exit ports 44 around the bailies 45 or the air may be discharged through the chute 33 if that is employed. The baiiies serve to scrub the air to remove surplus moisture and solid matter therefrom. The form of humidifier shown in Figures 5 and 7 is similar in all respects to the form shown in Figure 10 with the exception that in Figure 10 one chute 33 is provided whereas in the form shown in Figures 5 and '1 two such chutes may be used, one for each exit port 44. When these chutes are attached to the exit ports 44 they direct the air from the humidifler upwardly and into the horizontally disposed main stream of incubating air.

It will be noted that the floor of the space 43 is designated 45 and is inclined to a sump 41 having a wire bottom 45. This su'mp is removable. The forward end of the water pan 4| is provided with a filler cup 49 communicating through the port 55 with the water pan 4|, the rear end of which communicates with a float chamber 5| which has a float 52 controlling the introduction of water in the usual manner from a pipe line 53. The float chamber is provided with a hinged cover 54. Associated with the water motor or pump 55 are bailles 59a depending from the bottom 45 of the chamber 43.

The dry air laden with flui! from the chicks or other foreign material is drawn in through the casing 35 which forms a motor housing and motor support. This air is discharged into the water spray. The water and flui! run downhill on the sloping bottom 45 to the sump strainer 41 where the fluff is maintained in a wet condition at all times so that it will not be taken up by the air stream. The dry air having deposited its burden by turning at right angles and slowing down, at the same time secures its load of moisture, passes over the bafiles 45 and out the port 44 into the horizontally circulating air stream.

In the form shown in Figure 10 the air leaving the port 44a at one end is discharged through the vertical chute 33.

The starting and stopping of the motor fan 31 is controlled by the humidostat 55 (see Figures 4 and 6) which has an expansible and contractible tube 5!! affected by the temperature variation caused by the evaporation of the moisture from the wick 51 dipping into the trough 55 and mounted on the tube 59. The movement of the expansible tube 59 in the following manner springs or unsprings the humidostat contact spring .55 which opens and closes the contacts 50 controlling the circuit through the wires 5| and 52 so as to start and stop the humidifier fan 31.

To the outer end of the expanslble tube 59 is attached the outer end of the rod 59a, the latter passing loosely through the inner end of the tube 59. The rod 59a is of relatively inexpansible material, and thus transmits the expansion and contraction of the tube 55 to the remainder of the apparatus.

The inner end of the rod 55a is threaded, as at 52c, and on this threaded portion is mounted a nut 52c, engaging a lever 52a pivotally mounted upon the frame of the humidostat, as at 52b. The rod 59a passes loosely through the lever 52a and also through the casing of the humidostat. The outer end of the rod 55a is rotatably mounted in the outer end of the tube 55 so that it may be turned by turning the adjusting knob 52!, this operation causing the nut 52:; to advance or recede along the threaded portion 520 of the rod 59a. The casing of the humidostat 55 is pro vided with a fixed block 5|a, suitably insulated and having a notch adapted to receive one end .of a contact spring 55. The other end of the contact spring 55 is received in a similar insulated notch in the end of the lever 52a. The 5 mid-point of the contact spring 55-is provided with a contact stud 550, which is adapted to engage a similar contact stud 55 in the end of the range screw Girl. The wire 5! is connected to the flxed block Na, and thence'to the contact 10 spring 55, whereas the wire 52 is connected to the range screw 52d.

The operation of the humidostat 55 depends upon the fact that the dry bulb temperature is kept substantially constant within the compart- 15 ment in which the humidostat is located. Consequently, the amount of evaporation of liquid from the wick 51 into the air surrounding it will depend upon the humidity of this air. If the humidity rises, the evaporation from the wick go 51 decreases, and consequently the temperature of the tube 55 rises because it is not cooled by this evaporation. The tube 59 expands because of its rising temperature, and pulls the rod 59a to the left (Figure 6). The latter also pulls the nut 52a :6 to the left, moving the upper end of the lever 52a to the left and bowing the contact spring 55 downward, separating the contact 55a from the contact 50. This breaks the energizing circuit of the humidifier fan motor 35, causing the $0 humidiflcation to be suspended. It will be observed from Figure 6 that this operation is a snap operation, namely, that a certain amount of energy is required to be built up before the contact spring 55 bows, the action then occurring :5 with a quick snap.

When the humidity falls, the wick 51 is enabled to evaporate more moisture, cooling the tube 59 and causing it to contract. As it contracts, its outer end moves toward the right, pushing the 40 rod 55a to the right and with it the nut 52c on the threaded portion 52c thereof. This permits the upper end of the lever 52a to move to the right, allowing the contact spring 55 to flatten out and permit its contact 5511 to engage the con- 45 tact 55 upon the range screw 52d. The energizing circuit of the humidifier fan motor 55 is thereby closed and humidiflcation of the air is resumed.

By turning the knob 52/, the temperature at 50 which the spring 55 flexes may be accurately and precisely adjusted. By turning the range adjustment knob 52d, on the other hand, the point at which the spring contact 55a engages the movable contact 50 may also be accurately adjusted. 55

The wires 5| and 52 are connected in circuit to the main supply lines 53 and 54. Across these lines is the fan circuit 55 containing a fan 30. The heat circuit 55 containing the heater 3! is connected from the main circuit 54 to the fan 0 circuit 55 through the wires 51, 55 and 59. These wires are bridged by the cross-over switches 15 and 1| operated by the respective coils 13 and 12. One end of each of these coils is connected to the fan circuit by the wire 14. The other ends of .5 the coils are respectively connected by the wires 15 and 15 through the primary thermostat 11 and the secondary thermostat 15 respectively to the wire 54.

In operation, the heat is normally cut on and 70 oil by the primary thermostat 11 and maintained between the ranges of 96% and 97. If the heat rises above 97, the heating circuit is cut oil? by the movement of the cross-over switch 1| from the wires 55 and 55 to the terminals in the wires 75 63 just below. The heat being cut of! when the temperature rises above 97 degrees the temperature usually drops below 97 degrees. And when the temperature falls below 96 degrees the switch ll connects the wires 68 and 69.

If the heat continues to rise due to the animal heat in the incubator, the secondary thermostat will open at 97 F., closing the circuit 61 by the cross-over switch 10, thereby energizing the damper motor to open the damper and admit fresh air. When the temperature falls below 96% degrees F. the switch 10 will close, through the operation of the thermostat I8. The thermostat 11 having already closed the switch ll, heat is now turned on. Whether the heat circuit is operating or the fresh air circuit is operating makes no difference to the humidostat, which will open and close according to the moisture content within the cabinet. The fan 30 also continues to operate continuously.

Figure 8 shows a system of wiring in which there is included a control thermostat for cutting off the heat when a certain determined temperature has been reached. In the event that this control does not operate and the temperature reaches a sufliciently high degree, a safety thermostat is operated to move the safety relay for forming a circuit through the primary of a bell transformer, to the secondary of which transformer is connected a bell for giving the alarm. When this bell rings it is an indication that the temperature has reached or is approaching the danger point, and personal attention must be given to the operation of the incubator.

I desire to comprehend within my invention such modifications as may be clearly embraced within the claims and the scope of my invention.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. In an incubator, in combination with a stack of spaced superimposed egg trays, meansto prevent air passing from one tray to the other upwardly or downwardly, means of circulating the air between said trays horizontally, means for extracting from said horizontally moving air streams a portion of the air, incorporating moisture with it, and returning said moisture laden air to be moved again in horizontal air streams, said last mentioned means comprising a motor and fan, a hydrostat, and means connecting said hydrostat to said motor and fan for operating said motor and fan when the air moving in horizontal paths between said eggs needs the incorporation of moisture therein.

2. In combination in an incubator, means to move the air in said incubator in a stream, means to extract a portion of said air, humidify it and return it to the main air stream, and to scrub said extracted air to remove therefrom foreign material, returning it to the main air stream in clean, moist condition, and means remotely located from the means applying moisure to the air affected by the moisture in the main air stream adapted to control the introduction of moisture to the main air stream.

3. In an incubator, the combination of a main fan moving the air in a stream in the incubator over the eggs, a supplementary fan extracting air from the main air stream, means operated in conjunction with said supplementary fan for humidifying the extracted air which is redelivered to the main air stream, and hydrcstat means in the main air stream adapted to control the fan humidirfying the air.

, air is driven against the back of the cabinet, is di- 4. In combination, in an incubator, a main air fan for moving air in the incubator in a stream,

a humidifier fan adapted to extract air from the stream, humidify it and return it to the inlet of the main air fan in humidified condition, and 5 means engaging one wall of the incubator and actuated by the moisture conditionin'the air for starting and stopping the humidifier fan.

5. In combination in an incubator, means to heat air including a heating circuit, a primary 10 thermostat controlling the heating circuit, a secondary thermostat controlling said heating circuit, a damper motor having a circuit, a damper operated by the motor, a fan having a circuit connected in parallel with the heating l5 circuit and the damper motor circuit, a humidifier, a humidifier fan and a humidifier fan circuit, and a humidostat controlling said humidifier fan circuit.

6. In combination, a main circuit having a 20 damper motor therein, a heating circuit thereacross, a fan having a fan circuit across the main circuit, said heating circuit being adapted to be connected to the fan circuit, a humidifier fan,

a humidifier fan circuit across the main circuit, 25 a humidostat in the humidifier fan circuit, a primary thermostat and switch to control the damper motor circuit and the heat circuit, a secondary thermostat and a secondary switch tocontrol said damper and heat circuits, said cir- 80 cuits being so arranged that the humidostat may operate when either the heat circuit or damper circuit is in operation, said first-named fan being adapted to create a current of air and the second-named fan being adapted to take air from 85 the current and return it to the current.

7. In combination, an incubator, a continuously operating main fan and an intermittent humidifier fan, a humidifier, a humidostat controlling said humidifier fan, damper means to admit 40 fresh air to said incubator, a motor for the damper means, means to heat said incubator, primary and secondary thermostats operated at different temperatures to control said heating means and the motor, and a common supply cir- 45 cuit for said main fan, humidifier fan, heater and damper motor.

8. The combination, in an incubator, of an open cabinet, spaced parallel stacks of trays spaced from one another and from the side walls 50 of the cabinet, a separating plate having a fan opening extending from one stack of trays to the other and spaced from the back wall of the cabinet, and a fan in said fan opening whereby rected to the right and the left, and thence passes between the trays.

9. In an incubator, egg-carrying trays arranged horizontally, means for moving the air in the incubator in a stream horizontally between the egg-carrying trays, and movable means to extract only a part of the air circulating within the incubator, humidify it and return it to the main air stream, said air-returning means comprising a conduit adapted todirect 05 the humidified air from the zone of humidification to the point of entry of the air into the airmoving means.

10. In an incubator, in combination with a stack of superimposed egg trays, means to pre- 5 vent air passing from one tray to the other upwardly or downwardly, means to circulate the air horizontally between said trays, and movable means within the incubator for extracting from said moving air streams a portion only of the air circulating within the incubator, incorporating moisture therewith, and returning said moisture-laden air to the main air stream to be moved again in horizontal air stream, said airreturning means comprising a conduit adapted to direct the humidified air from the zone of humidiiication to the point of entry of the air into the air-moving means.

11. In combination in an incubator, a main air fan for moving air in the incubator in a stream, a humidifier i'an adapted. to extract air from the stream, humidity it and return it to the inlet of the main air fan in humidified condition, and means actuated by the moisture condition in the air for starting and stopping the humidifier fan.

EDWIN T. BRACE. 

